Coeur d'Alene language

Coeur d'Alene
Snchitsu’umshtsn
Native toUnited States of America
Regionnorthern Idaho
EthnicityCoeur d'Alene people
Native speakers
4 (2007)[1]
Salishan
Language codes
ISO 639-3crd
Glottologcoeu1236
ELPCoeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Coeur d'Alene (Cœur d'Alène, Snchitsu’umshtsn) is a Salishan language. It was spoken by only two of the 80 individuals in the Coeur d'Alene Tribe on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in northern Idaho, United States in 1999.[2] It is considered an endangered language. However, as of 2014, two elders in their 90s remain who grew up with Cœur d'Alène as their first language, and the use of the language is spreading among all age groups.[3]

The Coeur d'Alene Names-Places Project visits geographic sites on the reservation recording video, audio, and still photos of Tribal elders who describe the site in both English and Coeur d'Alene languages.[4]

The Coeur d'Alene Tribal Language Program and elders have actively promoted the use of the language,[5][6] and have created computer sounds that use Snchitsu’umshtsn phrases.[7] Radio station KWIS FM 88.3 in Plummer, Idaho offers programming to preserve the Snchitsu’umshtsn language.[3][8]

Lawrence Nicodemus, "a retired judge and former tribal council member," [3] became a scholar of the language. He had worked with linguist Gladys Reichard in his youth, and went on to create a grammar, dictionary, and instructional materials. Nicodemus taught language classes until his death at age 94. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe's language program has "taught classes and worked with the language department to record more than 2,000 hours of audio and video."[3] Classes are also available at North Idaho College.

  1. ^ "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  2. ^ Lewis, M. Paul (ed.) (2009). "Coeur d'Alene: Ethnologue report for language code: crd". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, TX: SIL International. Retrieved 2012-12-26. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Kramer, Becky (2014-01-25). "North Idaho College offers instruction in Coeur d'Alene language". The Spokesman-Review, Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  4. ^ "Native Names: Rural broadband access preserves Native American cultural history" (PDF). Media Democracy Fund. Retrieved 2012-12-26.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Coeur d' Alene Tribe - Language Dept". Archived from the original on 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
  6. ^ "Coeur d'Alene: Cultural Preservation: Language Center". L³ - The Lewis And Clark Rediscovery Project. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
  7. ^ "Audio Alerts in snchitsu'umshtsn for Computers". Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
  8. ^ Becky Kramer (2009-01-09). "SR.com: Tribe gets OK for radio station". Retrieved 2012-12-26.

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